Friday, 29 February 2008

Avant que je donne un «coup-de-pied au seau», il faut que je voie le Viaduc Millau. C'est mon pont de favori dans le monde entier et il a été conçu par Sir Norman Foster; le même Architecte qui a conçu le Grand Cornichon à Londres......Mais on ne peut pas manger des viaducs à Londres !Before I kick the bucket, I MUST see the Viaduct at Millau, a beautiful little town on the River Tarn in Southern France in the Aveyron Department in the Midi-Pyrénées Region.I would rank this bridge as being one of the most beautiful modern-day structures in the world. It is the tallest cable-stayed road bridge in the world, and takes the A75 autoroute from Sévérac-le-Château to Lodève and Spain, (or Montpellier to the east). It crosses the Tarn River valley near Millau, relieving the town of much traffic, especially during summer. Reading books in Adelaide should be replaced by Summer in Millau !

This morning, Sunday, we had the greatest excitement for yonks.We were blessed with a little entertainment from Mother Nature, when one of our "Stringy Bark" trees decided to shuffle off its mortal coil. The heat stress in the base of the trunk, and the dry rot had brought it to breaking point. With a fabulous, long and loud crash, the tree let itself crash across the street. Poor Sally (in the red car),had driven to the shops only minutes before and narrowly missed being crushed flat, like a lizard on a country road!Eucalyptus Obliqua has the distinction of being our first Eucalyptus species discovered and published. It was first collected in 1777 during Capt. Cook's third expedition to Terra Australis. A specimen was sent to the British Museum in London, where it was examined by the French botanist Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle. L'Héritier used it as the type species for a new genus, which he published in 1788. He named the genus Eucalyptus from the Greek eu ("good, well") and calyptos ("covered") in reference to the flower bud cap. He gave this species the name obliqua from the Latin obliquus ("oblique"), in reference to the leaf bases of unequal length. Thus the full name of the species is Eucalyptus Obliqua L.Her.

Friday, 15 February 2008

Adelaïde a été disposée en 1836 près du Fleuve Torrens. Il a des larges boulevards, les parklands ouverts qui entourent son mile carré du centre de la ville et beaucoup d'églises, qui datent du 19ème siècle moyen. Voici le King William Street, avec la Cathédrale de Saint Peter à l'arrière-plan. Boulevards of AdelaideAdelaide was set out in 1836 near to the River Torrens.It has wide boulevards, open parklands that surround its 'square mile' and many churches, dating back to the mid 1800's.Here is King William Street, with St. Peter's Cathedral in the background.

Monday, 11 February 2008

Pendant que le climat d'Adelaïde reste obliger à ses citoyens, il est toujours très plaisant de manger le dîner à un restaurant à côté de la plage.C'est un de beaucoup de cafés de plein air de Glenelg, sur une nuit, chaud et doux.Dinner in the open.While the Adelaide climate stays kind to its citizens, it's always nice to eat dinner at a restaurant beside the beach. This is one of the many of Glenelg's open air cafes, on a warm, balmy night.

Thursday, 7 February 2008

Quand j'étais étudiant à l'université, j'ai eu plus de cheveux sur ma tête, mais aujourd'hui j'ai.... amis merveilleux dans tout le monde entier. Certains ne peuvent pas parler anglais, et je ne peux pas parler leur langage. Néanmoins, il est facile d'avoir de bons amis.... et de les aimer tous ! !J'ai été très excité, quand j'ai trouvé cette vieille photo de moi et plusieurs autres étudiants architecturaux, des années 1960. When I was a student at university, I had more hair on my head, but today I have.... marvellous friends throughout the whole world. Some can not speak any English, and I can not speak their language. Nevertheless, it is easy to have good friends.... and to love them all !!I was very excited, when I found this old photo of myself and several other architectural students, from the 1960's. Can you guess; which of these idiots is ME ?

Wednesday, 6 February 2008

Depuis que j'étais un petit garçon, j'ai aimé cet arbre. Quand j'étais petit, il flottait au vent son feuillage pendant que nous conduisions le long de la route entre Adelaïde et Victor Harbor. Aujourd'hui il a la dignité de Winston Churchill tandis qu'il m'observe de son position élevée sur la haute. Et une couleur semblable, peut-être ?This tree has always been my friendEver since I was a small boy I have loved this tree. When I was small, it used to wave its foliage as we drove along the road between Adelaide and Victor Harbor.Today it has the dignity of Winston Churchill as it observes me from on high. And a similar colour, perhaps ?

Seagulls love to eat chips, and the toes of little girls. In summer, we all love to sit beside the sea at Glenelg, take off our shoes and eat fish and chips. Others love to take their photograph, and listen to the sounds of the gulls, as they fight to win the most chips.

WELCOME TO THE WIDE BROWN LAND, A LAND OF SWEEPING PLAINS, OF RAGGED MOUNTAIN RANGES, OF DROUGHTS AND FLOODING RAINS. HERE IS THE LAND DOWN UNDER AND ADELAIDE, CAPITAL CITY OF SUNNY SOUTH AUSTRALIA. PLEASE ENJOY MY CITY, AND FROM TIME TO TIME, I SHALL TAKE YOU TO THE "BACK OF BEYOND".